Dujardin whistleblower feared "victim blaming", says student's lawyer

The lawyer representing the former student that filmed and submitted a complaint about Charlotte Dujardin says the Olympic champion used a whip in order "to lift up the legs of the horse."
Stephan Wensing, from the European Equine Lawyers, says the video was recorded two-and-a-half years ago while his client watched a lesson.
The whistleblower didn't report it until now because she was intimidated by Dujardin's prestige, Mr Wensing said.
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[@sandralee8203]

Absolutely shocking, she should be banned from owning any animal; I would like to see the banning of whips period.

[@heidecarroll5836]

No one should feel sorry for Dujardin; they should feel sorry for all the horses she's beaten.

[@susanmarston5475]

I hate her she is cruel

[@paulatreanor5566]

She's conceited thinking she can treat that horse 🐴 badly.

[@Struieboy]

She claimed it was “an isolated incident which doesn’t reflect who I am” I think she should have said “that’s the first time I’ve been filmed whipping a horse”

[@melgrant7404]

@@Struieboy exactly.

[@jenstrack4179]

Lawyer states that the person who took the video says she saw other instances of abuse but they are just not on film. I'm afraid she will get off scot free because of who she is.....maybe banned from the sport but no charges of animal cruelty which she deserves.

[@melgrant7404]

@jenstrack4179 I think there will be uproar if she isn't procecuted.

[@LilyJ0000]

​@@melgrant7404there should be. Horses can't stick up for themselves. It's so shameful what she's done. Disgusting

[@paulagaub9871]

What about the woman laughing in background ? ​@jenstrack4179

[@55555gino]

By the way she was whipping the horse, it’s clear that that was NOT the first time. Unbelievable, poor animal

[@equusasinus]

I am a keeper of equines - I have four donkeys - and I have a profound respect for their sensitivity and intelligence. If I treated them as appallingly as this "professional" horsewoman, I would expect to be prosecuted and have my animals removed. She should not be allowed to keep equines again until she has undergone some sort of RSPCA education course about animal suffering. After watching this video - which is utterly sickening - I wouldn't trust this woman to keep a hamster.

[@mazdamaniac4643]

She should be banned for life for ever owning or going near any equine again, as well as staring at a prison sentence for endangering the rider's life. I've rode horses before, I'd be bloody terrified if someone started whipping the horse I was riding, because it may decide to kick off, chuck me, then trample me. Besides that, I'd rather prefer not to take a whip to the neck or whatever if she screwed up her aim. Any whip can cause serious injury to someone if mishandled. We should also remember that this is what she's been caught doing, what else has she been doing to mistreat these animals and for how long?

[@philipholding]

Not even a hamster

[@saira7741]

Doubt she will change. She looks like an aggressive person.. That is her personality

[@steveexon7504]

If anybody thinks this is an isolated incident then they are wrong- whipping and other extreme measures are regularly used in training - just look at horses when they gingerly trip trop around the ring - not in the slightest a natural movement for a horse

[@DarkstarCarno21]

That’s not the case for every horse or trainer at all. There are plenty of bad people motivated by ego and greed. Grouping whole disciplines into abuse is wrong and misleading. The truth is, these people want to make money and a reputation for themselves and so they overbreed and rush training. There are plenty of amazing riders and horses that love their jobs

[@SarahQG-qr9cc]

​@@DarkstarCarno21There are indeed plenty of good riders, but unfortunately not in the higher levels.

[@HereIam-rg3vy]

This won’t have been the first time she’s acted with such cruelty,it’s the first time she’s been caught doing it

[@damienslade]

"Victim blaming?" The horse is the victim.

[@sofiasahlin7477]

Guess that person really meant they (as the messenger) didn’t want to get shot…

[@MsJellyBellyLove]

Whistle blower blame?

[@pattykake7195]

💯🎯🎯

[@Alison-ye3sv]

The video contains laughter either by the person filming of the person next to her - so that also raises questions. And why wait this long to report it?

[@sandromiranda431]

@@Alison-ye3sv we just don't care about time; she should anyway be punished and banned!

[@davidpearson6785]

Well, those gold medals are now utterly worthless

[@Sly_Wolf_1]

They always were.

[@Jess-k6q]

For ‘error of judgement’ read cruelty.

[@MsJellyBellyLove]

The whole sport is worthless - the system is built on necessary cruelty to control the horses' performance.

[@leadbelly1495]

@@MsJellyBellyLovewell put

[@annpetersen7009]

@@MsJellyBellyLovesame as the big lick horses in the Walking horse world. Unbearably painful to watch

[@LGBT-Dan]

She should NOT get away with that! So disgusting- cruel and evil

[@nigelcarren]

"In order to judge a man... we must judge how he treats his animals!"

[@mikecollins8640]

@@nigelcarren Immanuel Kant, Paul McCartney, Lewis Hamilton

[@verolawson3898]

​@@mikecollins8640I was very disappointed to once see videos of Hamilton visiting some horrible "tiger owner" 😢😞😡

[@davy2266]

whipping a horse to dance for her and expect gold medals for it is shocking. sadly, many entitled people behave in this manner.

[@ellietyrer]

This is not “an error of judgement”. She knew precisely what she was doing and probably does the same thing to this day. Despicable woman

[@keliusher-holmes2165]

She should be BANNED from keeping any animals for applying such cruel and brutal abuse.

[@adriandavis2772]

If I saw a horse or any animal being ill treated I would not wait two and a half years to report it I would report it straight away.

[@annamariayannetta242]

👍👍👍👍👍👍💔😭🐎 0:48

[@verolawson3898]

It does not make the cruelty less, or?

[@Cwgrlup]

Also, why do we hear the person filming snickering? Dispicable.

[@LadyGeckoFoot]

It's quite suspicious why the "whistleblower" waited until the Olympics to speak out. It reads like a smear job. Horses and dogs are trained on systems of positive and negative reinforcement + reasonable punishment (when necessary). I've ridden horses my entire life. I'd like to know WHAT the reasoning was for Charlotte's actions.

[@sedg03]

​@@LadyGeckoFootgeorge morris was permanently expelled for something that happened like 50 years prior. FIFTY YEARS - half a century ago....

[@alanhaward4922]

Its not a error of judgement , its bloody cruelty to animals.

[@michelebourke4340]

she also used "error of judgement" excuse when disqualified from a European competition a few yrs back when her spurs left a bloody mark ie pierced the skin, on her horse's side!!!!

[@mariamatheson5300]

​@@michelebourke4340she is a liar.

[@sedg03]

​@@michelebourke4340 oh. Not good for Charlotte if true.

[@jo-penford]

Absolutely Disgusting...Dujardin is way too comfortable whipping that horse. Easy to see it her " method " of having a horse lift up his legs. I hope others come forward... they may not out of fear of reprisal. Kudos to this women who did !!

[@janekiceniuk1578]

It's not "her method". It's A method, been used many times by many trainers.

[@jo-penford]

@janekiceniuk1578 They should be called out as well then, hope they are. I wouldn't ever dream of doing this to my horses or anyone elses. Hope she has a lifetime ban !!!

[@TheOptimod]

She's sorry she got caught and shown up for what she really is, not sorry she did it in the first place. Evil, spoilt excuse for a human.

[@confusedgerbil1923]

My Sister in Law was a top eventer before retiring with injury, she worked always with the horses in cooperation and teamwork, this treatment of horses is entirely unnecessary and cruel.

[@jenstrack4179]

Horses have died while eventing (rotational falls at jumps while on cross country). Sorry but I cannot be a fan of or condone a sport where horses lose their lives.

[@mazdamaniac4643]

It would take a pretty sick individual to take a whip to someone else in order to 'teach' them, but whipping an animal as big and powerful as a horse is sheer lunacy. It's not only the amount of cruelty and distress that she is causing to the horse, but she is also endangering that rider if that horse decides that enough is enough and kicks off. You'd be surprised how much damage an enraged horse can do to a person, people underestimate them, but they can and will kill a human if pushed beyond their limits. Charlotte Dujardin should be looking at a lot more than being charged with cruelty to an animal, she should be staring at a criminal charge for willfully endangering that rider's life.

[@gottasay4766]

Keep in mind that Charlotte has been mentored by others who probably put her in the same position.

[@tessdurberville711]

The rider is complicit. Age is not an excuse.

[@poppyrowland1385]

They ARE SICK!

[@janekiceniuk1578]

​@@gottasay4766 absolutely no doubt about that.

[@sedg03]

But it didnt go wrong in that way. Had it? It wld be a very different discussion. She's doubly in hot water tho... because she was the trainer.

[@Cycle.every.day.]

I hope being posh doesn't get her off the hook.

[@telz4521]

Come on, it took them two days to say what she actually done😂😂😂

[@mikecollins8640]

There goes the Damehood...

[@reasondora2712]

Not posh . Working class background.

[@MarkSmith-tp6zc]

@@reasondora2712oh dear

[@michelebourke4340]

@@reasondora2712 someone on a fb post said her mother/parents had had issues re horse welfare too ages ago. don't know if that's true or not.

[@theawesomeyoutubersandco7124]

Absolutely disgusting!!!! No respect at all for her

[@gazs7237]

It's not just her, this must happen a lot. Horses don't dance unless they are broken and afraid

[@Chipdenn]

she should be charged with animal abuse and put to jail. Poor horse

[@mariamatheson5300]

I'd be happy to see that.

[@TEAMMAURICE]

As a horse & animal lover in general, I find this kind of behaviour disgusting! She should be banned from competing for life!

[@birgit4314]

STOP HORSE ABUSE ⚠️

[@macksmith4731]

I worked at Mount St John, were she rode for, I don't no her. I didn't see any animal cruelty but I witnessed alot of abuse to staff and I mean chronic bullying, its why I happily quite my job , this does not surprise me at all , or why people don't speak out these people run this hole industry... v sad was difficult time for me trying to work with these people they are shity people

[@rickyhank118]

How many others are getting away with it behind closed doors!

[@melgrant7404]

Maybe this will bring in new regulations.

[@jeanblyth6305]

Exactly. It’s shocking 😢

[@annamariayannetta242]

I know many, I'm in The United States 4:01

[@Feg1989]

All of them

[@jeffy3964]

The only reason she pulled out of the competition is because she knew this was coming out!! that’s her true colours, she should never work with animals again.. total ban for life.

[@melgrant7404]

Agree no real remorse.

[@maka1685]

The fact it was released just before the olympics…I think they did it purposely to get her kicked from the team. If they cared for the horse they would have done it a lot earlier.

[@tracihuff9780]

She should never be allowed to train again. Completely barred. She is not an athlete she is a saddest. Thank god this person came forward…

[@louisewoods832]

Stop making it about the timing . She has abused the horse end of

[@melgrant7404]

Agree.

[@colleenwright2306]

Error of judgment..... she is hoping to get away with cruelty. She must be stripped of all medals

[@jenstrack4179]

There will be no real punishment unless she is stripped of all medals. Also should be charged with animal cruelty.

[@janeday9148]

Cruelty in show jumping was exposed years ago ,its shocking this is still happening, I had 3 horses & this is horrific behaviour to use a lunging whip in this way is just vicious ,all disciplines should be a partnership with your horse,she looked very comfortable ,this behaviour was part of her training plan

[@earnestequivocation6250]

utterly disgusting - attacking a defenceless animal!

[@MIRIAM-bm5sn]

So disgusting she needs to go to court for animal cruelty my little mares would do anything for me and we loved each other so much totally obscene

[@jennydembovsky57]

I’m so unbelievably shocked. That the top dressage rider in the country should be this cruel…. She should not be allowed anywhere near ANY animals at all. Also totally sickening is the person who took this footage & has kept it hidden for years. Why was it not reported straight away?? That person has allowed possible further abuse by her for years!!!! 😡😡😡😡😡

[@Sly_Wolf_1]

Disgusting behavior but we know she'll get off, too much snobbery, also no matter how "intimidated" the informant felt it's disgusting to wait 2.5yrs to go public, how many other horses have been abused.

[@Randomequestrian-pm4hl]

Please remember the student was a teenager at the time - quite difficult position. But she finally did the RIGHT thing, and is an example that may bring forward more whistleblowers... because there ARE others like Dujardin.

[@jannieg.1430]

it's too sad😢, but trust me, she's not the only one training a horse like this

[@denisemaryheatherington5820]

Why did the whistle blower wait more than 2.5 years to denounce animal abuse, especially knowing that other incidents occurred. If she was so worried about animal cruelty she waited a long time, there is more to this that we don't know . The video was horrific and is very damageing to all equestrian sports.

[@macmac9896]

Disclose right before Olympic, guess up

[@Welshhippywitch]

She needs to be prosecuted for animal cruelty and have her horses removed and be banned for owning more but as she's well-known i doubt that will happen she will get away with it

[@jenstrack4179]

Yes, she will. And people will still spend big money for her to give lessons and conduct clinics.

[@melgrant7404]

But even so her reputation is in tatters.shes done .

[@melgrant7404]

@jenstrack4179 somehow I doubt that now.who wants to be associated with an animal abuser.

[@sedg03]

​@@jenstrack4179 I dont think shes ever been valued as a good clinician.

[@PaulSmith-mh9bi]

Stop saying error of judgment it was blatant animal cruelty stop being so dam woke

[@melgrant7404]

Repeated errors of judgement. Apparently.

[@chrisquigley7186]

OMG, she got off way to lightly. She should be banned permanently from horses, and other animals. She'll just do it again, but more careful next time not to get caught. She has that tendency. All respect for her is gone. Did the right thing turning, her in. Things like this should be turned in.

[@melgrant7404]

Most people would be banned .

[@samuel_iv]

its not victim blaming, nobody is blaming the horse, be accurate

[@twwoody813]

I would bet my life this is not the first time she has done this. Hopefully we never meet in person 🤬

[@MsJellyBellyLove]

It's her standard MO.

[@AnitaWalters-h4i]

So the client was filming the video is the person who is laughing at the horse being whipped

[@marianmarlin7724]

No the lawyer said his client was the one taking the lesson, the rider of the horse.

[@sorbabaric1]

No

[@MsJellyBellyLove]

The person recording is different from the person laughing. I believe the lawyer's client is the one who recorded it.

[@Raffelwaffel1]

If she is the one taking the lesson, she is guilty too. No beginner would try pirouette canter. She clearly knew about it years ago and showed up with the video before the Olympic games. Makes it even worse I guess.

[@TheSpoovy]

Prosecuted for animal cruelty, surely?

[@melgrant7404]

@@TheSpoovy hope so.

[@joannatuczynska3508]

Really scandal... no excuse😢

[@lisaorme8393]

Her medals should be taken away and she should be arrested.

[@ridinreiners]

Dujardin is wrong and was abusive in this video, but the timing of this is suspect. If the whistleblower truly cared about the welfare of the horses, she would not have waited 2.5 years to report the abuse.

[@lisaorme8393]

This is so disgusting and shocking - she should be banned from any involvement with horses - training/owning!

[@elliewoods8965]

when is prince harry going to be dealt with for the cruelty on his polo pony which later died? these entitled people are too much. And british horse society fails students on the stage 2 exam if the lunge whip so much as TOUCHES the horses legs. Its not what that whip is for at all, its never meant to touch the horse. Once a horse has been treated like that lungeing will not be any use as the horse is then focusing on avoiding the whip not the trainers voice or the rider if there is one.

[@sedg03]

I think Harry has been dealt w - harshly... hes been exited.

[@ellenhackworth8276]

I didn't realise they treat the poor horse's like that. Cruelty isn't on in order to win medals poor thing's .

[@poppyrowland1385]

Dressage is and always has been very cruel.

[@poppyrowland1385]

Animals should not be in human competitions. AT ALL. NEVER.

[@andrewdavies3972]

Video made by a wealthy horse owner, who has released the video now out of pure hatred and vindictiveness. Dont get me wrong dujardin deserves all the punishment and loss of sponsorship that is coming her way. But the video cammer and horse owner is just as guilty by not coming forward or stopping what was going on at the time.

[@k-w627]

100% Amen

Animal cruelty is evil

[@arachmakalk]

Timing is not the issue, the whipping is the issue, it's disappointing that the timing is discussed, it is not changing the abuse and therefore irrelevant.

[@suedewuede9341]

Timing is an issue!!!! Had this come out years ago, it could have prevented more horses from being abused!!!

[@verolawson3898]

​True, I also would have preferred it for the person to come forward sooner... but: the main issue is still the abuse!

[@chrissp67]

Why wait 2 half years to report it, oh yes the Olympics x

[@janc8199]

If a horse can feel a tiny fly land on its back..think how much pain they feel being whipped. This woman is a disgrace to the horse world. My question is why did it take so long for this to come out..obviously many people saw her do this and it was accepted by them..Shame on them.

[@wally2786]

I’ve been in this industry for 56 years. Where the hell was the FEI back in the 80’s? And what does this say about Carl Hester??

[@saarlooswolfhund6237]

Hester is LDR rider as well. Its all about Hyperflexion

[@wally2786]

@@saarlooswolfhund6237 hi I’m a jumper. What’s LDR

[@saarlooswolfhund6237]

@@wally2786 Low Deep Round. Rollkur

[@macmac9896]

It’s very easy for us to point fingers towards Charlottes. I am not supporting her in anyway, but we from this industry know she’s not the not one, that’s really “common”

[@saarlooswolfhund6237]

@@macmac9896 99 Percent of the industry is abuse. Serious abuse

[@christopherbentley7289]

Takes my mind back to the 1970s when there was a huge controversy about a West German equine Olympian 'encouraging' his horse to clear jumps by using broken glass adhered to the top thereof - "typical inhuman Teutonic tactics". Sadly, it appears us Brits are engaging in similar goings-on circa fifty years down the line.

[@verolawson3898]

That was in 1990.

[@christopherbentley7289]

@@verolawson3898 Thanks for the correction. Maybe it's something to do with the 1970s being so associated with equestrianism that made me think that.

[@kathleengowarty2742]

She should be banned by the FEI for life

[@vinnv4010]

Why was the client laughing and filming? Why would she allow her horse to beaten. The client is as culpable as the trainer.

[@CatherineTaylor-ok3mf]

The client was laughing while videoing this atrocity

[@kerryharrison3806]

Personally I think the timing of the release of the video is ideal. It has ensured this story and the issues of horse abuse and abusive training methods is getting the maximum coverage and attention, as well it should. Hopefully people watching coverage of the equestrian events over the next couple of weeks will now be more aware of this and other abusive training methods such as rolkur.

[@melgrant7404]

Yes the toothpaste cannot be put back in the tube now.

[@johnmartin7919]

Dressage is no different from the circus - whips, bull hooks, anything to force the animal to perform. .

[@WoundedWarrior2012]

I've never whipped my horses. Ever!

[@sorbabaric1]

No. The actions of a some (sadly the judges have been rewarding the results if Roker etc) do not reflect all the riders.

[@christinehoolihan7433]

When she calls her actions as her "lack of judgement" she reveals that she does not understand she is flippant to that poor beasts well being.

[@sedg03]

Apparently she used that same excuse when her sours bloodied a horse's sides once before....

[@DD-ro1zk]

Evil

[@uklaw]

This event should no loner be part of the Olympics. Ever. Obviously this is not an isolated incident. Evil Sport.

[@lkmorgan1959]

She hasn't once apologized. I have no sympathy for Dujardin. I seriously doubt this was the only time shes treated a horse badly. She trains using Rollkur as well!

[@user-cf7ny4kg6r]

The person who recorded the video should not be allowed to remain anonymous. She deliberately made the video public now in order to inflict the maximum amount of damage on Dujardin. This is all part of a plot to have Dujardin removed from Olympic competition so that the rider who is part of the scheme has a better chance of winning a gold medal and all the money and fame that will follow.

[@JamesThompson-u7e]

100%

[@philipholding]

Notwithstanding the brutality. What purpose does it serve in horse training. The horse is likely to associate the whip with fear and become distressed and take flight. They are flighty animals anyway. Not only cruel, but pointless.

[@darrenjohnbryant51]

Imprisonment 5 years.

[@cazglen361]

One thing to consider; whoever was videoing was laughing, so perhaps the whistleblower had an axe to grind with Dujardin. Having said that, Dujardin’s behavior is deplorable.

[@Ph93-b9k]

No-one notice the woman filming it was laughing???

[@Leitros-kj4qb]

It may have been a bystander. No excuse whoever it was however.

[@pauljohnson1776]

Funny how this has been raised onnthe eve of the Olympics? Im not saying that thebtreatment of the horse is acceptable, however it looks like its been raised now as an act of revenge, or as a headline grabbing opportunity.

[@jenstrack4179]

Well, maybe if released two years ago it would not have gotten headlines and nothing would have been done. So maybe it is good that it was released now. Headlines around the world now......two years ago, probably not.

[@shaunjenkinson5089]

Isolated incident? Looks like she knows what she is doing. Maybe she's done it loads of times. Life ban beckons

[@jenstrack4179]

Should also be banned from giving lessons and clinics because there still will be a demand.

[@melgrant7404]

There was other times that weren't filmed.

[@shaunjenkinson5089]

@@melgrant7404 Clearly

[@melgrant7404]

@jenstrack4179 not much of a demand for her specifically though.

[@mariamatheson5300]

​@@melgrant7404not any more. She's done.

[@maliarobin650]

I am not condoning this at all, but also wondering why racing isn't banned- they are whipped in front of thousands of people daily.

[@amanda90]

This happened all the time at the stables

[@nmallory2]

If the videographer was so concerned about the horse, it would have been released immediately. It doesn’t take 2.5 years to “think about it”. Geez.

[@dic2504]

So disappointing! Very glad this was shared since this must stop!

[@jenstrack4179]

But will it? Trainers like this will just be super careful that no one with a phone is allowed in the arena.

[@melgrant7404]

​@jenstrack4179 maybe new regs might insist on cameras in training venues. Should be imo.

[@LornaSpencer-n1x]

Why was your client laughing?

[@rolandrimann8788]

Her career is over now , and so it should be.

[@silky2204]

This discovery should have happened years ago.

[@ArjunGhag-ix7te]

Ban sports which hurt animals please. Also ban Kosher & Halal butchers. It causes bad luck karma..

[@grahamnewton4381]

Regardless of the event, the timing is of significance. It’s timed to prevent taking part in the Olympics.

[@tessdurberville711]

Comparable to things being exposed about presidential candidates.

[@melgrant7404]

The actual abuse is far more important.

[@ratava6325]

Why has this person waited so long to report this? Looks like an ulterior motive.

[@arachmakalk]

It doesn't matter, it's still horse abuse.

[@mrsleetaylor1949]

I’m sick to my stomach watching this video of this woman whipping this horse into shape. Why didn’t the rider just get off the horse and walk it away from the abuse? To say that it’s bc it was Charlotte duJardin and maybe that’s how it’s done is pure stupidity! I fear that it happens all the time and she just got busted! Sickening!!! I’m watching the beautiful sport of dressage now with a different set of eyes 😡😔

[@ZakAM85]

What Charlotte did was disgusting and she should be punished no doubt about it, but this rider who the Lawyer confirms Knows Charlotte and is obviously in the industry, suddenly gets a conscience when she’s had this evidence for 2 and a half years, then weeks before the biggest sporting event in the world decides this is the right time, she was happy to let this cruelty to potentially many more horses continue over that period of time, which means they were also complicit and that this is a tactical move in my opinion nothing to do with horse welfare, everyone knows beating a horse is wrong regardless of who the person is and for this rider to continue to train with Charlotte and witness more abuse and not do anything for all this time, they should be ashamed of themselves and be investigated also, if the rider really cared about horse welfare why not just send the video to the relevant authorities and wait to see how they handle the situation before going public, I wonder how much they got paid for the video and if the funds will be donated to an equine charity, sadly I bet not.

[@michelebourke4340]

giving this footage to the FEI 2 yrs ago meant it would have been buried...FEI being as corrupt as it is. Now, at Olympic time, footage has gone viral, thankfully, putting all of top dressage under a spotlight, as it should be given the hidden abuses.

[@michelledax4083]

I believe the rider is 19yrs old now. If so, that would make her under 18yrs at time of incident. Think about that.

[@ZakAM85]

It wasn’t the rider who reported the incident and took the video, the individual sponsored the event and had worked with Charlotte multiple times so was not under 18. I’ve had horses from 12 years of age I know it’s unacceptable to whip a horse repeatedly so to say they didn’t know this behaviour was not ok at any age I find hard to believe.

[@michelledax4083]

@@ZakAM85 Yes, but, the rider would've known that that they would be involved in legal matters and publicity. Young people are very intimidated by more mature adults that appear to be "experts." I never said that the rider did not know that it was wrong.

[@diana143a1]

Who’s this news anchor? Lawyer? His questions are to client’s lawyer are just absurd!! Abusing any kind of animal is wrong. That’s as simple as breathing. Disgraceful as an Olympic medalist. Her medals should be taken back.

[@ChrisAndCats]

Feared "victim blaming"? Why would anyone ever blame the horse? (who is the actual victim here)? I do wonder why the person who filmed it didnt say anything at the time? At least to the person doing it, even if not public.

[@Error-wp1ub]

It's insane to see other top level riders that will compete in the Olympics that on several occasion showed animal abuse.

[@PaulThatcher-iu5in]

200 years ago, naturalist Thomas Bewick wrote the following tribute: "The Horse, in his domestic state, is generous, docile, spirited, and yet obedient...Although the Horse is endowed with vast strength and powers, he seldom exerts either to the prejudice of his master; on the contrary, he shares with him in his labours, and seems to participate in his pleasures...It must be a matter of regret to every feeling mind, that these excellent qualities should be often shamefully abused...thrown away in the ungrateful task of accomplishing the pruposes of unfeeling folly." It was true then, and it's true now.

[@CR-yd4qe]

This won’t be the first and only time or the second. Just the first time it was filmed.

[@charlesdavis-langer]

What am I missing? It looked like the whip barely touched the horse, missed it at times? Couple of times horse slightly twitched tail- but very slightly.

[@Monterey96]

Let’s be honest. She wanted the most attention she could gain with the release. If she cared about horses and accountability, she should have released it two and a half years ago.

[@melgrant7404]

At least its been exposed.

[@JaneBrowne-y5g]

Can I just ask why it has taken 4 years for this video to surface? I wouldn’t let her look after my goldfish!

[@arachmakalk]

Timing is not the issue, the whipping is the issue, it's disappointing that the timing is discussed, it is not changing the abuse and therefore irrelevant.

[@cathyharper6469]

@@arachmakalktiming is the issue, this person has sat on this for 4 years. Wonder if this person is competing in the Olympic Games

[@missmapleleaf]

it’s 2 years not 4 just fyi

[@cathyharper6469]

@@missmapleleaf 2 years too long

[@verolawson3898]

​@@cathyharper6469yes.. but STILL NOT THE MAIN ISSUE!

[@louisepayne1053]

What exactly she was hoping to achieve I have absolutely no clue. It just ridiculous. Lunge whip rule number 1 it never touches the horse... ever. Thats like first diploma basics... only she knows what she was trying to do badly. No other explanation than taking her own impatience and frustration out on both horse and students. This sort of behaviour isn't new. It's the reason the decent grooms are so thin on the ground. Top yards seem to have this ethos of the grooms should feel privileged to work for them regardless of how they or the livestock are treated. Many go to these yards as students.

[@annamariayannetta242]

THE WHOLE EQUESTRIAN WORLD 💔🐎😭. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED NOW, ITS A WAKEUP CALL.

[@An-Alien-On-Earth]

Why has it taken four years

[@peartreeproductions1993]

Timing. People only care about this sport when the Olympics come around. Very savvy timing actually.

[@equusasinus]

It is explained in the interview.

[@annamariayannetta242]

I heard now 2 years 5:11

[@arachmakalk]

Timing is not the issue, the whipping is the issue, it's disappointing that the timing is discussed, it is not changing the abuse and therefore irrelevant.

[@jenstrack4179]

2.5 years. Watch and listen to the entire video.

[@kathleengowarty2742]

Not only is it animal abuse but put the rider in danger. Dear God!!!